Punchboard chance counting punch means



Dec. 1, 1953 G. ANDERSON PUNCHBOARD CHANCE COUNTING PUNCH MEANS Filed Sept. 28, 1951 R m "m W 8 A 8 m. m 0 e a Y B N Fig. 4

i 'atented fiec. l, 1953 PUNCHBOARD CHANCE COUNTING PUNCH MEANS George Anderson, Walla Walla, Wash.

Application September 28, 1951, Serial N 0. 248,675

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in punchboard constructions and has more particular reference to a combination punchbcard which is conventional in construction, a novelly constructed chance counting punch and chain means whereby said punch is constantly anchored for handy use on said punchboard.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a handily constructed special punch which lends itself for handy and practical use in dislodging punch out disks and accompanying chances, an appropriate lightweight chain for anchoring the punch to the punchboard, readily observable punch registering numbers, a counter for bringing the numbers into play and novelly arranged. plunger means which operates the counter for counting and registering every punch taken.

In carryin out the invention a simple cylindrical casing is provided. This serves as handle means, carries the fixed punch and plunger which is associated with the latter and also houses the counter and means which operates the counter in a desired step-by-step manner.

Briefly summarized, the preferred embodiment of the invention has to do with a hollow handle forming casing, a punch which is fixed within the casing and projects beyond the casing for handy use, a plunger forming sleeve slidaoly mounted on said punch, a ratchet equipped counter mounted in the casing, a pawl on the plunger for turning the ratchet wheel, and a dog in the casing for preventing retrograde rotation of said ratchet wheel.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the fragmentary portion of a punchboard, showing the novel counting punch and how it is anchored by chain or the like on the punchboard;

Figure 2 is a view in section and elevation of the punch, said View being taken on the plane of the irregular line 2-2 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, also looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a meter reset key.

Referring now to the drawings by way of numorals and lead lines, the punchboard is denoted, generally speaking, by the numeral 5 and it, as shown, is a conventional product of manufacture. It is of customary laminated construction and has punch outs or depressible plugs d which serve to force out the rolled printed ribbons (not shown) constituting the chances. Since virtually all persons are usually familiar with punchboards, generally speaking, no further details of the construction thereof need be shown or d scribed.

The punch is a cylindrical rod and is denoted by the numeral It. It has handle and counting means attached rigidly thereto. Specifically, the stated means comprises a substantially cylindrical casing [2. The casing, more specifically, comprises an open ended cylinder M of a diameter to be conveniently grasped in ones hand. A disk closing head it is telescopingly plugged into the left hand end of the cylinder and suitably held in place. There is a similar head it at the other end and this is fitted telescop-ingly in place and is provided with screws or the like 2i; which screw into sockets provided in internal bosses 22-42 provided on the interior of the cylinder. The counting means is mounted between these heads. The means in question is referred to in a unitary sense by the numeral 24 in Figure 2. Actually, this means is analogous to an ordinary odometer register, that is, of the type used on automobiles and the like for counting miles. The means shown in Figure 2 embodies a rotatable shaft 26 with bearing means therefor and counting wheels 28, 30 and 32 are mounted on and carried by the shaft and are provided with customary pinions 33 and The numeral 36 denotes a ratchet wheel which imparts progressive and successive rotation to the counting wheels. These counting wheels are provided on their peripheral portions with numerals which as shown in Figure 1 are brought into registry with a sight opening 38 constituting an observation count reckoning window. It is obvious that any suitable counter may be provided which is capable of counting and ShOWiIlg the results in a step by step manner and which is operable by spring returned plunger means. The plunger mean employed here comprises a sleeve 40 which is mounted for reciprocation on the relatively fixed punch rod l0. As best brought out in Figure 3 the sleeve is operable through an opening provided therefor in the casing. A setscrew 42 is provided this fastens a spring finger 44 on said sleeve, said finger constituting a ratchet actuating pawl. The return spring is denoted by the numeral 46 and this surrounds the punch rod and bears at one end against the plunger sleeve and at its opposite end against a socket member lil which is edly mounted in the casing and which has a screw-threaded socket to accommodate the screw-threaded end 5% of the punch rod. The econd spring member 52 which appears in Fig ure 3 is a detent but may be conveniently referred to as a latching dog since it prevents retrograde rotation of the ratchet wheel. Actually, the means referred to may be broadly thought of as pawl and ratchet mechanism between a reciprocable spring returned plunger and speedometer type counter. The entire punch device or assembly is attached as at st to a suitable flexible chain or the like 56 and the latter is appropriately anchored on the punchboard.

It will be seen that the invention serves the purpose of counting every sale or punch taken on a punchboard of the type offered to the public, this so that the cperator of the punchboard can keep an accurate account of sales and thus prevent customers from inadvertently or otherwise concealing or doing away with actual punch numbers and also minimizing losses to operators of these sales type punchboarcls. Elie device is preferably anchored on the punchboard so that it cannot be easily removed without the use of a screwdriver and never without the authorization of the operator of the punchboard.

It is evident from the description and drawings that the means involved has to do with a practical structural adaptation which is novel in this line of endeavor and in which manufacturers, retailers and users will find their respective requirements and needs fully met, contained and effectually available.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice provided no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A punchboard chance counter device comprising a portable cylindrical casing provided with a sight opening constituting a window, counter means operatively mounted in casing and having numbered indicating wheels rcgistrable individually and collectively with said window, said counter means also including a ratchet wheel, said casing being provided adjacent said ratchet wheel with opening means, a rigid punch rod having one end detachably mounted in said casing and having its opposite end passing through and beyond said opening means where it is situated for use in association with a punchboard, a plunger in the form of sleeve, said sleeve being slidable in said opening means and reciprocable on said punch rod, a coil spring surrounding said rod and located in the casing and interposed between the inner end of the sleeve and the first named end of said punch rod, a pawl mounted in said casing and cooperable with the ratchet teeth on said ratchet wheel, and a pawl carried by said sleeve and also engageable with the ratchet teeth on said ratchet wheel.

GEORGE ANDERSON.

References Gited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,1e5,596 Kolar 1- July 6, 1915 1,493,737 Couse May 13, 1924 1,841,951 Hopper July 19, 1932 2,120,172 Burnett et a1. June 7, 1938 FOREIGN PATFNTS Number Countr Date 429,074 Great Britain May 23, 1935 

